The 2023 Lexus LC 500 is a standout flagship sports car that is in a world of its own. This is a grand touring car, meaning this car has its roots in sporty driving, but can also be driven from Phoenix to California, comfortably and in style. We recently had the opportunity to test drive one of these for a week. The coupe version we are reviewing today would be priced at $106,885, however the prices for the LC 500 start at $93,450. Of course there’s the option to take the price even higher than ours. The LC 500 is offered as a coupe, V6 hybrid (read our hybrid review here), or convertible which is the most expensive option.
Exterior
The LC 500 is a beautiful car from every angle with a low-slung hood, big wide fenders, large luxurious wheels, and the coolest taillights currently on sale, that help give the car a presence. Our particular car is finished in Cadmium Orange, an exciting metallic orange that is offered on other Lexus models, but really pops here. It would be a shame to order such a pretty car in a darker color that would hide its body lines. You wouldn’t know by looking at it, but the exterior of the LC 500 is made possible by cleverly engineered aluminum suspension built to lower the 5.0 liter V8 for a low-slung hood without compromising performance with adaptive variable suspension. This LC 500 features a few exterior options such as the tri-LED headlights which can be found in different variations as a Lexus staple, along with the massive 21-inch forged alloy wheels, an increase over the standard 20-inch wheels. But the best features, standard for all LC 500s, are the taillights and active spoiler. The taillight housing is sizeable but features an infinity-layered taillight that I believe is the only factory example like this, but I have seen some after-market examples replicating it. The active spoiler will automatically raise and lower, but adds some dynamic fun along with a button in the interior to manually raise it.
Interior
Lexus always features a premium interior but the LC 500 chooses to focus on the sporty side for its award-winning interior, adding Alcantara sport seats and headliner, a carbon fiber pattern clock, and even the movable gauge components from the V10-powered Lexus LFA supercar. The seats are comfortable with fantastic bolstering making them perfect for sporty or long drives. The LC 500 also features a plethora of technology, including Lexus Climate Concierge which helps to automatically adjust the climate control systems to the perfect temperature accounting for exterior temperature and conditions, although you can still adjust everything manually through the center display. The center display measures 10.3 inches and uses the Lexus trackpad located on the center floor console, which, yes, can be awkward at first but you will get used to it, or you can wait for the 2024 model year without the trackpad. The 13-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound audio system is phenomenal no matter what setting its on. The LC 500 interior is solid with premium materials such as leather and carbon fiber which truly make you feel special despite some of the cookie-cutter Lexus components.
Powertrain
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 5.0 liter V8 producing 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque which is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and delivers power to the rear wheels. The LC 500 is on the heavier side at 4,340 lbs but still manages a brisk 0-60 in 4.4 seconds (per Lexus), a quarter-mile in the low 13s, and an electronically limited top speed of 168 mph. The car is fast, certainly enough to enjoy on the weekends, and traverse hills and mountains while driving across the country. One of the best things about the LC 500 is the sound. With a naturally aspirated V8 and active sport exhaust, I found myself with the radio off and using the magnesium paddle shifters for some fun factory exhaust pops on deceleration from a downshift.
Fuel Economy
While driving your grand touring car cross country it never hurts to have good fuel economy. The LC 500 has an EPA rating of 16 mpg city / 25 mpg highway / 19 mpg combined. Not too shabby for a 5.0 liter V8, it is certainly better than older V8s and even some current V6 vehicles. If you take that combined rating of 19 mpg paired with the 21.7-gallon fuel tank, that gives you 412.3 miles of range, plenty to get you between cities. The best part is, we managed to EXCEED the EPA ratings in normal driving conditions going to and from California getting over 25 mpg, which to me is always worth talking about. While commuting in the Phoenix grid, the car averaged around 24 miles per gallon in our real-world testing, with the V8 idling in traffic and (maybe) a fun pull here and there on freeway on-ramps. Fuel economy is not the primary concern when buying a vehicle like this, but it’s nice to know it’s not terrible.
Conclusion
If you want the Lexus LC 500, you have to buy a Lexus LC 500. There is no comparable car that offers the same unique styling, performance, and quality of luxury, at least at this price point. The grand touring lifestyle is alive and well with the ability to daily drive the LC 500, thanks to modern driving technology, but great trunk space and backseat storage for long trips, and performance when you want it for sporty canyon carving.
